Page 79 of Stepson

I step up to him, pressing my hand to his chest. “Hey, don’t apologize. We’re in this together and I don’t care about theconditionof the room. As long as you’re safe, I don’t care where we stay.”

He grabs my face and kisses me hard, making sure to run his tongue along my bottom lip. I immediately open my mouth and press my tongue against his. He tastes so good and memories from our quickie this morning invade my mind.

Gabe pulls me tightly to him while his mouth is relentless on mine. He kisses me as if this is the last time he’ll ever kiss me,and something doesn’t sit right in my stomach. Is something going to happen soon? It’s almost as if my gut is warning me.

I whimper into his mouth and kiss him back just as fervently, but it’s cut short when a knock echoes from the door. Our lips break apart instantly as I look nervously up into Gabe’s eyes. His gaze is just as nervous as mine before he releases me and slowly walks over to the door.

My heart thunders in my chest, praying that whoever is at the door isn’t Marcus. It could be Kurt or Stephanie, but something deep in my gut tells me it isn’t.

“Gabe,” I warn, but it’s too late.

He opens the door as the sunlight blinds me from seeing who it is. Gabe lets out a grunt as I hear the sound of him getting punched in the face. I scream and back up into the room so I can see, and that’s when my blood runs cold. Marcus stands there with pure evil rage in his eyes as he goes at Gabe again.

The only sound I can hear is my thundering heartbeat in my ears and the ringing of my screams throughout the small room.

Chapter forty-one

Bentley

The entire room looks as if a hurricane has blown through. Both table chairs are knocked over, a lamp is broken, and the curtains are torn from their rod. At this point, I can’t see who’s winning. Their fists are connecting with one another’s jaws, and I don’t know what to do.

I’m completely full of anxiety and my throat is dry from screaming, and all I’m trying to do is stay out of their war path. My nerves are frazzled, and I look around for something to grab to defend myself and help Gabe.

Marcus is relentless, overpowering Gabe with such rage that terrifies me. I've seen Marcus angry before, but this is different. There is something so feral in his eyes and the way he punches Gabe I think he might kill him.

The thought snaps something inside of me, and I grab the other lamp that’s solid and heavy. I scream out as I jump over the bed and land on Marcus's back. He lets out a grunt before he grabs a handful of my hair and yanks me off.

My skull burns from where he had a hold of me, but I ignore it as I pick up the lamp and swing it as hard as I can. The loud thump against Marcus's head overpowers the war cries in the room and then he goes limp on top of Gabe.

I still hold the lamp in case he wakes up and tries to attack me again when the room door is kicked open and two officers stand there with their guns drawn.

"Freeze! Nobody fucking move!" The officer in front screams as his eyes take in what has happened.

Blood pools around Marcus's head as Gabe pushes him off, but then the other officer rushes over and rolls Gabe to his front. He shoves his face into the carpet before he roughly pulls Gabe's arms behind his back.

Everything happens so quickly. One moment we were minding our business and then the next, this all happened. I swear we can't catch a break.

Gabe is cuffed in a matter of seconds before the officer comes to me. I drop the lamp with a thud on the floor and try to step back.

"Wait! We were just defending ourselves! You can't arrest us!" I try to plead with the officer but the look in his eyes tells me he isn't hearing me.

These must be some of the officers Marcus paid off, and I know then we’re screwed.

He rushes me and grabs my arm roughly before he spins me and cuffs my wrists. The pain shoots up my arms but I ignore it as I think about what’s to come. Even after everything, I have a feeling Marcus is going to win again.

"Don't fucking touch her!" Gabe yells from his face down position on the floor.

The officer goes back to Gabe and kicks him in the side, making him grunt in pain.

"Hey!" I scream as tears fill my eyes.

Paid off or not, these bastards won't get away with this shit. I will use the rest of my life to take them down, and the glare I send the officer shows it.

He chuckles as if he’s on top of the world before he roughly lifts Gabe to his feet.

"Oh, this is going to be sweet booking you for the third time, Price. If I have it my way, you and your whore won't see the light of day for a very long time."

Whore?! Who is he calling a whore? I spit in his direction, not giving two shits but the officer clearly has a few.

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